OPERA HOUSE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1928, Page 3

OPERA HOUSE

“ROSE MARIE” TO-NIGHT. “Rose Mario” is tho most expensive musical production ever staged by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and will no doubt amaze all who flock to see and hear it. It comes to Palmerston North to-night and again on Monday, direct from a sensational Auckland season which constitutes a record. Songs from “Rose Mario” have been brought to us and such haunting melodies as “Indian Love Call,” “Rose Mario,” “Pretty Things,” “Lak Jeom,” ‘‘Totem Tom Tom,” “Only a Kiss,” “Wanda Wultz,” “Door of My Dreams,” and othors havo only whetted tho appetite for moro. “Rose Marie” is a romance of the Canadian Rockies, and tho cast is one of the best ever assmebled by tho Firm. It is welcome news that tho charming Miss Harriet Bennett has mado the trip and will bo soon in her original rolo of Roso Marie; Reginald Dandy, a clean-cut young Englishman, who has tho juvenile lead, is an actor and singer of somo distinction, and shares with Miss Bennett the principal honours. Olio must not forget the character study of Frederic Bentley, also an Englishman, in the comedy rolo of HardBoiled Herman, nor tho work of Yvonne Banvard as Lady Jane. Miss Stophanie Desto has a unique role, that of Wanda, the Indian vampire, who leads tho Totem girls in tho dance that has boon tho talk of continents. There are other names to conjure with too —James Hughes, as Sergeant Malone; George Bryant, as Black Eagle; Lou Vernon, Emilo La Flammo; Noel Allan, Edward Hawley; and Doris Johnstono as Ethol Brander. “Roso Mario” comes with huge scenic equipment and wonderful dressing, an army of chorus girls and Totem dancers^selected from England, America and Australia ,and a crowd of chorus men, so essential to tho tale. It will be a revelation—according to those who havo seen “Rose Mario”—to watch tho evolutions of tho Totem girls, an extraordinarily beautiful and vitalising ac-tion-song in which some 50 girls take part with a precision that is military in its perfection. Each of the dancers is dressed in tho bizarre colours and symbols of the Indian totem; like, jumping jacks they come to life and begin evolutions that are as unexpected as thoy are clover. Marching with automaton-liko jerks, they then dance in lively fashion under Miss Destc’s direction, writhe like a huge caterpillar, and stand, only to collapso like ninepins in a sensational finale. A matinee will be played on Monday afternoon and tho season concludes on Monday night. Tho box plans are at the Opera House.